Like many others, I had reservations about using this image for a meme, as I don’t want to disrespect this boy’s death.

But then I thought, it is even more disrespectful for people to ignore and shut out this child’s death and the many others like him. People need to see what is going on to give context to Trump’s shameful policy of blocking refugees from certain countries and giving Christians “priority.”

I think it’s a shame that our country would turn away refugees, when it is known that doing so can very well be a death sentence. It reflects a fundamental selfishness, as well as a deadly cowardice. We are supposed to be the “home of the brave.” Not so much, anymore, I guess.

Well, another New Year is upon us. I think a lot of people would agree that 2016 has been, as Helen Mirren said, a “pile of shit.”

We lost so many monumental talents that transcended their art to become inspirational beacons for humanity as a whole, and witnessed just how much xenophobic nationalism and division have festered in our country as well as across the pond.

But, as much as this year has sucked, I always come back to the idea that the entire concept of a “year” (and time itself) is just another illusion. It’s just a way in which we attempt to measure and quantify our existence on Earth, and doesn’t really exist. As someone wrote somewhere, “Time doesn’t exist. Clocks do.” No matter what year we say it is, the world just goes on constantly spinning, offering us only consecutive and fleeting moments, not actual days or years.

Still, one positive to the concept of a New Year is that it offers inspiration and motivation for change and growth. It offers us the feeling that we have an opportunity to make things better, and cast away all of the negative stuff that has impeded us or cast a dark shadow upon our days. So, here’s to seizing every single moment that we’re blessed to be here, and let’s give 2017 everything we’ve got, on an individual and collective level, to create a better world for everybody.

America, you’re never, ever, ever going to live this one down. This repugnant, embarrassing, narcissistic, arrogant and disgraceful bully is the man you thought belonged in the White House. And the photo above represents just one of a mountain of things which should have disqualified him from the presidential race, long before voting even began.

Thanks for making us the laughing stock of the world, Trump voters. As George Carlin said, “garbage in, garbage out.”

Colin Kaepernick has a lot of people talking as of late. A lot of anger, a lot of admiration, and some ambivalence, depending on who you talk to.

My own view is that most people are fine and dandy with the notion of free speech, until they hear or see something that they don’t like. Which is interesting, because the whole point of freedom of speech is that it is there to protect expression that may be unpopular.

Ultimately, whether a person agrees with Kaepernick or not, I would like to see them at least grant him that space to voice his opinion. He is aware of the possible consequences in terms of lost endorsements or backlash. So let him speak out if he so chooses.

Some people come to define words and concepts better than anything else possibly could. When I think of Ann Coulter, all I think of is “ugly.” I’m not commenting on her physical appearance. I’m talking about the disgusting and repugnant hate and ugliness that she exhibits at seemingly every opportunity she gets. Truly an ugly person.

The definitive source of this quote is unknown, although it often is attributed to Benjamin Franklin. To me, it doesn’t matter who said it. The message that ignorance is often willful remains loud and clear, regardless of the original author. And it is perfectly exemplified by the nonsense that has spewed from the Trump campaign, in particular from his spokesperson, Katrina Pierson.